Vulnerability Of Children Contributing Factors Health And Social Care Essay

Category: Abuse, Children, Disease
Last Updated: 21 Apr 2020
Pages: 21 Views: 369

The intent of this chapter is to set up an apprehension of the province of kids in South Africa, to understand the contributing factors to their exposure - impacting their quality of life on a multi-dimensional degree, and the impact of HIV and AIDS as one of the primary subscribers to kids 's exposure. In visible radiation of the information provided within this chapter, the full extent of the basic demands of kids in South Africa could supply a foundation for understanding the church 's yesteryear successes and failures in order to advance a possible pressing consideration of new attacks.

the province of kids

There is an pressing call for the engagement of faith-based administrations ( FBO, like the church ) , non-governmental administrations ( NGO ) and local authoritiess to help in turn toing the demands of vulnerable kids ( Blackman, 2007 ; Musa, 2005 ; Olsen, Knight & A ; Foster, 2006 ; Stephenson, Gourley, & A ; Miles, 2004 ) . This pressing call stems is in visible radiation of the hapless quality of life for these kids, every bit good as the lending factor of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Order custom essay Vulnerability Of Children Contributing Factors Health And Social Care Essay with free plagiarism report

feat icon 450+ experts on 30 subjects feat icon Starting from 3 hours delivery
Get Essay Help

The church and other FBO 's have been recognised by assorted writers and administrations in their partnership and function in community-based administrations ( CBO ) ( Hoff, 1998 ; Olson, Messinger, Sutherland & A ; Astone, 2005 ; Olson, Knight & A ; Foster, 2006 ; Unruh & A ; Sider, 2005 ) . The function of churches is widely recognised as a alteration agent whose engagement goes beyond merely the here and now.

But Unruh and Sider ( 2005 ) every bit good as Mitchell ( 2001 ) argue that churches, who are already involved in community development as their attack to societal ministries, are non every bit effectual as they ought to be and name for the pressing consideration of their attacks, underlying positions and motivations. This urges the church to grok what the specific demands of orphaned and vulnerable kids are, and to see its effectivity and its positions on how these demands can be addressed.

Within the recommended community development response for the church as outlined by assorted writers ( August, 1999 ; Dreyer, 2004 ; Du Toit, 2002 ; Liebenberg, 1996 ; Myers, 1999 ; Myers, 2006 and Vilanculo, 1998 ) , there is an pressing call to be needs-based that is developed through the assorted methods and rules such a response involves.

It is hence indispensable to grok the general province of kids, as the causes of exposure amongst kids can merely be understood when their worlds are explained and projected. Merely within the apprehension of their exposure and lending factors, can kids 's demands be efficaciously met and thereby their quality of life improved.

There are assorted statistical estimations and projections on the worlds of kids, refering the Numberss of orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) in South Africa. Within these assorted beginnings, disagreements were identified between the different beginnings.

The informations include projections with respect to HIV prevalence, orphanage, AIDS related deceases and even entire populations. These disagreements were compared and discussed within the work of Dorrington et Al. ( 2006:27 ) for the twelvemonth 2005.

No existent informations on the true province of orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) were found or concluded as the available statistical informations are all projections. Dorrington et Al. ( 2006:17 ) reaffirm the usage of the ASSA2003 Model, but promote comparing with other projections.

Bray ( 2003:44 ) raises farther concerns sing the methods used to cipher the estimations and projections in regard of orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) , but Bray is even more concerned with what one does with these projections and calls for the careful usage of such projected informations. Her concerns are based on the labelling of the kids every bit good as the intended results of intercessions and the nature thereof.

No beginning could nevertheless be found that denies the estimations and projections of orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) . For this ground, merely statistical informations from four important beginnings, due to their planetary engagement, leading and protagonism in this respect - ASSA2003 Model ( University of Cape Town ) , Statistics South Africa, UNAIDS and UNICEF - will be referred to in sing the regional and national informations.

The beginnings used in this survey can be accepted as reliable and trusty due to the beginnings ' national and international activism for kids and research within this field of survey. Due to the tendency in the past ten old ages of projected figures fluctuating to an undependable extent, these projections will be handled with great cautiousness.

It besides needs to be stressed that all projections and statistics provided here are estimates merely. The statistical information provided within this survey are included simply for the apprehension of the worlds kids are confronting and the part of these fortunes to the exposure of kids.

Statistical beginnings from chiefly the past eight old ages ( 2001 - 2009 ) will be quoted and referred to, and all other beginnings ( older than four old ages and other than ASSA, Stats SA, UNAIDS and UNICEF ) will be weighed against these to find the liberty of their statements and statements.

2.2.1 Specifying 'orphans ' and 'vulnerable kids '

In order to grok the world of vulnerable kids within the context of this survey, a clear apprehension of the two footings 'orphans ' and 'vulnerable kids ' is needed. Skinner et al. , ( 2006:620 ) refers to `` the importance of sing the state of affairs of kids orphaned by AIDS '' , but emphasizes that by looking at orphans affected by AIDS merely, does non embrace the full graduated table of the world of kids, since the HIV pandemic every bit good as environing poorness `` are making a context in which big Numberss of kids are '' made vulnerable.

It needs to be stated clearly that within the apprehension of the world of kids and intercessions to help them, it is acknowledged that HIV and AIDS are a major subscriber, but non the primary cause or subscriber to the exposure of kids. HIV and AIDS characteristic as outstanding factors lending to the exposure of kids but it can non be separated from other lending factors.

Orphans

Harmonizing to Skinner et Al. ( 2006:620 ) `` the most recognized definition of an orphan is a kid who has lost one or both parents through decease '' But this definition could besides include `` loss of parents through abandonment or if the parents are unable or unwilling to supply attention '' . They refer in most instances to the absent parent as being the male parent ( Skinner et al. , 2006:620 ) . Within the literature consulted, the age of the kid includes from birth and varies up to between 15 and 21, depending on the context and the degree of dependence on care-givers.

Harmonizing to Skinner et al. , ( 2006:620 ) , within the orphan grouping, degrees of exposure are discerned by an apprehension of the direct environment of these kids. These environmental apprehensions are used to understand these orphans within an inexplicit categorization system, `` such as the nature of their health professionals i.e. , drawn-out households, surrogate parents, community health professionals, child-headed families '' and institutional attention, the degree of extra aid required, and between 'maternal ' , 'paternal ' and 'double ' orphans ( 2006:620 ) .

Assorted writers have raised their concerns with respect to stigmatisations when specifying an orphan within a group such as 'AIDS-orphans ' ; or their degree of exposure within their environmental apprehension such as the term 'OVC ' ( Engle, 2008:9 ; Save the Children, 2007:29 ; Skinner et al. , 2006:620 ; Smart, 2003:4 ) . Care must hence be taken with how any term associating to orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) is used as they become objectified or marks for stigma and segregation which farther contributes to their exposure.

Vulnerable Children

Vulnerability is non an absolute province because there are grades of exposure which depend on the state of affairs of the kid. Harmonizing to Skinner et Al. ( 2006:620 ) there are `` a figure of lending factors to a kid 's exposure '' and each of these `` adds to the cumulative burden that the kid carries '' . For them, `` the extent of the crisis and extra jobs associated with it besides affect the impact on the kid '' ( 2006:620 ) .

Vulnerability is a really complex construct to specify and really frequently the understanding thereof is limited to the circumstance of the kid. Harmonizing to Smart, ( 2003:4 ) `` the construct of exposure is non merely restricted to persons, such as kids, but is frequently used to mention to families every bit good. ''

There does look to be a nexus between poorness and exposure proposing that policies and intercessions to better exposure among the hapless in general, will besides hold a positive impact on deprived orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) ( Smart, 2003:4 ) .

The South African Department of Social Development, defines a vulnerable kid as `` a kid whose endurance, attention, protection or development may be compromised due to a peculiar status, state of affairs or circumstance and which prevents the fulfillment of his or her rights '' ( 2005:5 ) . These conditions could be identified by the undermentioned standards harmonizing to Department of Social Development ( 2005:13 ) , Engle ( 2008:10 ) and Skinner et al. , ( 2006:623 ) :

A kid who is below the age of 18, and meets one or more of the undermentioned standard, is made vulnerable by it as it influences their quality of life:

Has a inveterate sick parent/caregiver ( regardless of whether the parent/caregiver lives in the same family as the kid ) , or

Lifes in a family where in the past 12 months at least one grownup died and was sick for 3 of the 12 months before he/she died, or

Lifes in a family where at least one grownup was earnestly sick for at least 3 months in the past 12 months, or

Populating with really old and frail health professionals, or

Lifes in a family that receives and attentions for orphans, or

Lifes outside of household attention ( i.e. , lives in an establishment or on the streets ) ,

Is born of a teenage or individual female parent ;

Is abused or ill-treated by a step-parent or relations ;

Is populating with a parent or an grownup who lacks income-generating chances ;

Has lost one or both parents ;

Children whose endurance, well-being or development is impacted by HIV or AIDS ;

`` Any physical or mental disability ; or any other long-run trouble that would do it hard for the kid to work independently '' Skinner et al. , ( 2006:623 ) . These indexs could include the following invariably present marks: deficient nutrition, marks of hungriness, marks of deficient slumber, `` hapless hygiene or can non prosecute in personal attention and does non hold vesture or vesture is soiled or damaged ( Skinner et al. , 2006:623 ) .

`` Illness, either HIV or other major unwellness ; and emotional or psychological jobs '' ( Skinner et al. , 2006:623 ) ; Harmonizing to them these indexs could include apathy or weakness that might demo in the kid as being unhappy, dull, being suffering or deficiency of motive, disregard of school assignment, irregular attending of school or non executing good at school, low school registration rates, high repeat rates, and/or high bead out rates ( 2006:623 ) .

Low immunization and limited or no entree to wellness services, malnutrition, and a high load of disease ;

`` Maltreatment at emotional, physical or sexual degree ; usage of drugs ( e.g. , gum, intoxicant, coffin nails, marihuana or cleft ) and non having equal attention '' ( Skinner et al. , 2006:623 ) - peculiarly love, counsel and support ; intra-household disregard when compared to other kids in the family ( 2006:623 ) .

At a higher hazard than their local equals of sing baby, kid and adolescent mortality ;

Family and community maltreatment and ill-treatment ( torment and force ) ;

Economic and sexual development, due to miss of attention and protection

It can be concluded, that even though the HIV and AIDS pandemic is apparent as a major subscriber and the presence of it will be seeable in about every facet of being vulnerable ; these every bit good as other factors lending to exposure, must be acknowledged and considered within the wider context of other kids.

HIV and AIDS is non the lone subscriber to the job of orphanage and exposure. Other factors like poorness, wars, maltreatment, non-HIV related unwellnesss and natural and unnatural deceases, contribute significantly to the job of orphanage and exposure amongst kids ( Simbayi, Kleintjies, Ngomane, Tabane, Mfecane & A ; Davids, 2006:20 ) .

It is therefore of import that HIV and orphan intercessions attend to the demands of all kids, instead than concentrating entirely on those kids affected by HIV/AIDS.

2.2 The SOCIAL STATe OF CHILDREN in SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is being considered as a underdeveloped state and an inspiration for the 'African Renaissance ' and human-centered development. With South Africa presumable holding the universe 's best Fundamental law and Bill of Rights ( Dinokeng, 2009:9 ) , one would anticipate a contemplation thereof in the world of the lives of the kids of South Africa.

The National image - the general province of South Africa 's kids

The undermentioned informations are twelvemonth specific, but reflects the exposure of kids in South Africa which is the primary focal point of the inclusion of this information in this survey.

In 2006, there were 18.2 million kids in South Africa and they constituted 38 % of the state 's population, of which 38 % were between 6 and 12 old ages, 34 % being younger than 6 old ages and 28 % were adolescents ( 13 - 17 old ages old ) ( Proudlock, Dutschke, Jamieson, Monson & A ; Smith, 2008:64 ) .

The livelihood-realities of South African kids

From all the kids in South Africa, in 2006 an estimated 12.3 million or 68 % of them lived in families with an income of less than R1 200 per month ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:63 ) . A farther 2.8 million or 16 % of all kids were populating in families across South Africa where kids were reported as hungry ( 'sometimes ' , 'often ' or 'always ' ) because there was non adequate nutrient ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:63 ; Stats SA, 2006:41 ) .

An estimated 10 million or 54 % of South Africa 's kids lived in rural countries harmonizing to research done in 2004. The Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo states were home to approximately 74 % of all rural kids in South Africa of which Limpopo was proportionately the most rural state, where merely 12 % of kids lived in urban countries.

In the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal states, there is more of an equal split between kids populating in urban and rural countries. In Gauteng there were 96 % and in the Western Cape 87 % of the kids urban-based.

It is a general pattern that grownups populating in rural countries, frequently move to urban countries in hunt of work, while their kids remain in the rural countries and are cared for by the drawn-out household.

There was an indicant that babies younger than one twelvemonth were more likely to be populating in urban countries than older kids, which suggests that babes born in urban countries ab initio remain with their female parents ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:87 ) .

The figure of kids populating in informal lodging ( backyard homes or hovels in informal colonies ) increased from 2.3 million in 2002, to 2.6 million in 2006 and besides accounted for 12 % of all South African kids ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:86 ) .

Children life in formal countries are more likely than those populating in informal or traditional homes to hold basic services on site. They are besides more likely to be closer to installations like schools, libraries, clinics and infirmaries than those populating in informal colonies or rural countries.

Proudlock et Al. ( 2008:90 ) reflects on kids populating in informal colonies as being `` more open to jeopardies such as hovel fires and paraffin toxic condition '' . For them, `` kids 's rights to adequate lodging agencies that they should non hold to populate in informal homes '' ( 2008:86 ) .

Overcrowding is related to a deficit of lodging and besides to the size of houses being built. In 2006, 5.2 million or 28 % of the entire child population lived in overcrowded families ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:90 ; Stats SA, 2006:41 ) .

For Proudlock et Al. ( 2008:90 ) , `` Overcrowding is a job because it can sabotage kids 's demands and rights '' , and refer to the right to privateness, and wellness as catching diseases spread more easy in overcrowded conditions. For them, `` kids in crowded families may fight to negociate infinite for their ain activities '' . These kids may besides hold `` less entree to basic services such as H2O and electricity '' ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:90 ) .

Good sanitation is critical for healthy childhood as there are a figure of negative effects for kids who are unable to entree proper lavatories. It is really hard to keep good hygiene without H2O and lavatories - kids are exposed to worms, bacterial infection which compromises nutrition.

A deficiency of equal sanitation besides undermines human self-respect ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:91 ) . In 2006, merely 9.9 million, or 55 % of South Africa 's kids had entree to adequate lavatory installations and 11 million or 61 % of South Africa 's kids had entree to imbibing H2O on site ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:91 ) .

In 2006, 10.6 million or 96 % of all kids of school-going age ( 7 - 17 old ages ) were go toing some signifier of school or educational installation. These figures nevertheless, are non an indicant of the regularity of kids 's school attending ; the quality of instruction and acquisition in schools, or about repeat and throughput rates ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:74 ; Stats SA, 2006:9 ) .

A ground for concern is the figure of kids who did non go to an educational installation, as harmonizing to Proudlock et al. , ( 2008:74 ) and Stats SA, ( 2006:9 ) , in 2006 there were about 447,000 kids of school-going age that were non go toing an educational installation, of which 337,000 were kids aged 13 - 17.

Every twelvemonth there are 20 000 babes stillborn and a farther 22 000 babes die before they are a month old ( 28 yearss ) , which accounted for 30 % of all child deceases in 2006 ( UNICEF, 2008:6 ) .

The mortality informations for 2006 showed that the highest figure of deceases in the whole population occurred in the 0 - 4 old ages age group of which the under five twelvemonth mortality rate ( U5MR ) increased from 40 deceases per 1,000 unrecorded births in 2001 to 72 per 1,000 unrecorded births in 2005.

The infant mortality rate ( IMR ) increased from 29 deceases per 1,000 unrecorded births in 2001 to 43 per 1,000 unrecorded births in 2005 ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:78 ; ) . It is estimated that one in every 17 kids dies before the age of 5 ( UNICEF, 2008:6 ) . Harmonizing to Proudlock et al. , ( 2008:80 ) the taking causes of decease in kids under five may be divided into four classs:

Complications during and shortly after birth

Harmonizing to them ( 2008:80 ) , `` the prima causes of decease among kids younger than 15 old ages ( for 2000 to 2005 ) are related to perinatal upsets ( upsets that occur in the period of late gestation to seven yearss after birth ) '' , which means that newborn kids and babies under one twelvemonth are peculiarly susceptible to diseases.

Respiratory and cardiovascular upsets remain the primary cause of decease in the perinatal period and, since 2002, it is the highest specific class of decease among kids under 15 old ages. By the terminal of 2003, the perinatal mortality rate was 35.8 per 1,000 for all bringings, and 26.4 per 1,000 for all babies weighing more than 1,000 gms ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:80 ) .

HIV-related unwellnesss

HIV/AIDS remains the biggest menace to child endurance as the HIV- and AIDS-pandemic continues to lay waste to the wellbeing and endurance of kids ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:80 ) .

Diseases straight related to poorness ( for illustration enteric infective diseases and malnutrition )

Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases have shown a diminution in incidence since 1997, and malnutrition as a cause of decease, has halved between 2000 and 2005 ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:80 ) .

Injury

Unnatural causes of decease that account for injury are classified under `` unspecified unnatural causes '' , which makes up 7 % of child deceases in 2005 ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:80 ) .

It was estimated for 2007, that for every 100,000 people, 41 were raped ( of which 40 % were kids ) . This statistic is accepted as under-estimated by UNICEF and states that `` under-reporting of offense is common, particularly when it involves people from the same household or community '' ( 2008:7 ) .

In the bulk of offenses that happen within societal or domestic scenes, the culprits and the victims know each other - they are household or friends ( UNICEF, 2008:7 ) .

HIV and AIDS regional informations South- Africa

Harmonizing to Smart ( 2003:7 ) the HIV- and AIDS-pandemic can be illustrated as a sequence of three moving ridges. The first moving ridge is HIV infections, and it `` is followed some old ages subsequently by the 2nd moving ridge of AIDS unwellness and decease '' . This in bend, is followed by the 3rd wave `` of kids being orphaned by HIV and AIDS '' , with its impact at multiple degrees ( 2003:7 ) .

But harmonizing to UNICEF ( 2004a:4 ) HIV and AIDS start to impact a kid early in a parent 's unwellness, as kids and immature people in an HIV and AIDS-affected family Begin to endure long before a parent or health professional dies, due to the effects ensuing in family income that plumb bobs, interrupted schooling and even entire fall-out, either to care for a ill parent or to gain money.

The impact thereof continues through the class of the unwellness, every bit good as throughout the kid 's development good after the parent 's decease. Assorted survival schemes are pursued, such as eating less and selling assets, which are lending to and escalating the exposure of these families.

For UNICEF, `` Children who are deprived of the counsel and protection of their primary health professionals are more vulnerable to wellness hazards, force, development, and favoritism '' ( 2004a:4 ) .

Harmonizing to UNICEF ( 2004a:3 ) kids affected by HIV and AIDS are non merely affected by orphanage, but they are besides made vulnerable when they have `` an sick parent, are populating in hapless families that have taken in orphans, are discriminated against because of a household member 's HIV position, or who have HIV themselves '' .

For so, HIV and AIDS `` has joined a host of other factors '' and includes utmost poorness, struggle, and development, which `` impose extra loads on society 's youngest and most vulnerable members '' ( 2004a:3 ) .

It is believed that due to the disagreements in informations older than 2005, there was a planetary under-estimation of the impact of HIV and AIDS pandemic in South Africa, to such an extent that South Africa was non considered to be a state confronting the biggest impact of this pandemic, as compared to neighboring states like Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Merely in recent literature ( from ASSA, UNAIDS, UNICEF and World Bank ) dated from 2005, it was realized that South Africa will hold the biggest impact of HIV and AIDS therefore holding the biggest load of orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) due to this pandemic.

In 2007, the entire South African population was 47.8 million people, of which 18.2 million where kids under the age of 17 old ages ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:82 ; UNICEF, 2008:5 ) . In the same twelvemonth, it was estimated that 5.7 million South Africans were populating with HIV, doing South Africa the largest pandemic in the universe ( UNICEF, 2008:7 - something non antecedently considered ( UNAIDS/WHO, 2007:16 ; UNICEF, 2008:7 ) .

Womans, particularly those in their kid bearing old ages, bear the biggest proportion of the HIV infection and a 3rd of pregnant adult females are estimated to be HIV-positive ( UNICEF, 2008:2 ) . The HIV informations from prenatal clinics in South Africa suggest that the state 's pandemic might be stabilising, but there is no grounds yet of major alterations in HIV-related behavior ( UNAIDS/WHO, 2007:12 ) .

By 2006, 294,000 kids under the age of 15 old ages of age were populating with HIV in South Africa ( ASSA, 2005: n.p. ; Proudlock et al. , 2008:82 ) and the bulk of them have been infected through mother-to-child transmittal and hence child prevalence among babies is mostly influenced by the HIV prevalence of pregnant adult females and the intercessions to forestall mother-to-child transmittal ( ASSA, 2005: n.p. ; Proudlock et al. , 2008:84 ) .

The highest prevalence amongst these kids was in KwaZulu-Natal with 3.2 % ; Mpumalanga and the Free State with 2.6 % ; and Gauteng with 2.5 % ( ASSA, 2005: n.p ; Proudlock et al. , 2008:84 ) . The estimations from the ASSA2003 theoretical account farther suggested that an overall prevalence of 1.2 % in 2000 has doubled to 2.1 % in 2006 for kids under the age of 18 old ages ( ASSA, 2005: n.p. ; Proudlock et al. , 2008:63 ) .

Harmonizing to UNICEF ( 2008:24 ) , `` life anticipation has plummeted by 15 old ages, from age 65 in 1996 to age 50 in 2005 '' and `` 1,000 people die every twenty-four hours '' as a consequence of AIDS-related illnesses.. In 2006, about 69 % of `` kids and grownups with advanced HIV infection were having antiretroviral intervention ( ART ) '' ( UNICEF, 2008:24 ) while still between 270 000 and 420 000 people died of AIDS related unwellnesss in 2006 ( UNAIDS/WHO, 2008:7 ) .

KwaZulu-Natal had the highest figure of deceases ( 15,209 ) due to AIDS related unwellnesss, every bit good as the 2nd highest figure ( 6,378 ) of kids on ART in that twelvemonth. Gauteng had the 2nd highest figure of child deceases due to AIDS related unwellnesss, but in the same twelvemonth it had the highest figure of kids on ART ( 6,992 ) ( ASSA, 2005: n.p. ; Proudlock et al. , 2008:85 ) .

Harmonizing to Proudlock et al. , ( 2008:84 ) , the HIV-pandemic has progressed at a rapid gait over the last decennary, and the necessary wellness services to turn to the demands of HIV septic kids, have non been put in topographic point. This has caused kids to non be able to entree the life-saving and desperately needed antiretroviral intervention ( ART ) .

Children in the way of HIV and AIDS - orphans

With a big figure of factors already mentioned that are lending to the exposure of kids, the impact of HIV and AIDS can be expected to be another large contributing factor.

`` In South Africa the figure of orphans has been increasing easy, and as a consequence has attracted comparatively small public attending. In old ages to come nevertheless, the figure of orphans is likely to lift quickly as AIDS mortality additions '' ( Johnson & A ; Dorrington, 2001:1 ) .

In 2001 they ( 2001:5 ) considered South Africa 's AIDS pandemic as `` still in its early phases, relative to other African states '' , as South Africa has yet to see the degrees of orphanage observed elsewhere in Africa.

This is because `` there are more people infected with HIV in South Africa than in any other African Country '' , and it is hence rather possible that `` the state will finally hold more orphans due to AIDS related causes, than any other state on the African continent '' ( Johnson & A ; Dorrington, 2001:5 ) .

Harmonizing to UNICEF ( 2008:24 ) , `` of all the states affected by HIV and AIDS, South Africa has the most devastating load, as a consequence of holding the universe 's highest figure of HIV infected people '' .

Harmonizing to Proudlock et. Al ( 2008:66 ) , in 2006, there were 3.7 million sum orphans - `` this is equal to 21 % of all kids in South Africa with 619 000 '' , or 3 % of all orphans documented to be maternal orphans, 668 000, or 4 % of all orphans documented to be dual orphans and 2.4 million orphans, or 14 % of all orphans documented to be paternal orphans.

Harmonizing to them, `` the figure of paternal orphans is this high because of the higher mortality rates of work forces in South Africa, every bit good as the frequent absence of male parents in kids 's live '' s ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:66 ) .

Per state, the estimations for 2006 were as follows:

KwaZulu-Natal - with 978 000 orphans.

Eastern Cape - 816 000 orphans

Limpopo - 481 000 orphans

Gauteng - 392 000 orphans

Mpumalanga - 286 000 orphans

Free State - 284 000 orphans

North West - 281 000 orphans

Western Cape - 198 000 orphans

Northern Cape - 52 000 orphans

( Proudlock et al. , 2008:66 )

There has been an addition in the figure of orphans in the past five old ages, and harmonizing to Proudlock et. Al ( 2008:66 ) there were `` about 750,000 more kids populating as orphans in 2006 than in 2002 '' and see this addition in visible radiation of the HIV- and AIDS-pandemic ( 2008:66 ) .

Further to this, they province that `` there where about 122,000 kids populating in an estimated 60,000 child-headed families across South Africa '' ( 2008:68 ) . Of these, 89 % were located in the undermentioned three states: Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape ( Proudlock et al. , 2008:68 ) .

Annually an norm of 1.1 million babes are born, of which 300,000 were born to HIV-positive female parents and an estimated `` 78,000 of these babes run the hazard of acquiring infected if nil is done to forestall mother-to-child transmittal of HIV. One-half of these kids die before they reach two old ages of age '' ( UNICEF, 2008:13 ) .

Orphan projections

As mentioned, the HIV- and AIDS-pandemic demands to be understood in footings of a series of moving ridges Smart ( 2003:7 ) . In South Africa, the first of these moving ridges represented new HIV infections which harmonizing to Johnson and Dorrington ( 2001:5 ) peaked in `` 1998 at approximately 930 000 infections per twelvemonth '' .

This was followed by the 2nd moving ridge of the entire figure of infections, which was estimated to top out in `` 2006 at 7.7 million infections ( 2001:5 ) . The 3rd moving ridge being AIDS deceases, is expected to top out in `` 2010 with approximately 800 000 '' ( 2001:5 deceases per twelvemonth, which will take to the 4th moving ridge being AIDS related orphans.

Johnson and Dorrington ( 2001:4 ) estimates this moving ridge `` to top out at `` 3.7 million maternal orphans ( kids under the age of 18 old ages ) '' ( 2001:13 ) and `` 4.71 million paternal orphans ( kids under the age of 18 old ages ) '' in 2015, ( 2001:14 ) while the entire figure of kids holding lost one or both parents `` is expected to make its highest degree in 2014, at 5.67 million '' ( 2001:14 ) .

Johnson and Dorrington estimates that in 2015, these orphans ( kids under the age of 18 old ages and holding lost one or both parents ) would be 33 % of the entire kid population, of which 18 % would hold lost a female parent ( maternal orphan ) and 28 % would hold lost their male parent ( paternal orphan ) and 11 % would hold lost both their parents ( dual orphans ) .

They farther estimate to stay at these high degrees for an expected 15 - 20 old ages, due to the general consideration that if a kid lost one parent due to AIDS related unwellnesss, it is most likely for the other parent to besides decease of AIDS related unwellnesss, to the extent that by 2020 a sum of 40 % of all orphans would be considered dual orphans ( Johnson & A ; Dorrington, 2001:14 ) .

Giese and Meintjies ( 2004:2 ) , Johnson and Dorrington ( 2001:22 ) call for these projections to be understood as merely anticipations in the absence of any major intervention intercession or behavior alterations.

Johnson and Dorrington ( 2001: two ) besides states that within these projected orphan estimations, one needs to see that foremost, comparatively few orphaned kids are likely to be HIV positive, as most HIV positive orphans do non last for long plenty to represent a important proportion of the orphan population.

Second, the rate of orphanage is likely to be the highest in the black African population group amongst hapless socio-economic groups ( 2001: two ) .

Consequences of orphanage

Harmonizing to Johnson and Dorrington ( 2001:31 ) , South Africa can anticipate to see an dismaying growing in the figure of orphaned kids over the following 15-20 old ages.

The bulk of these kids will be adolescents, and will come from hapless socio-economic backgrounds. If their demands are non met, many of them will turn up as disaffected and anomic members of society.

Harmonizing to them, `` South Africa 's capacity to supply attention for these orphaned kids will therefore find the long-run societal stableness of the state '' ( 2001:31 ) . There have besides been legion other surveies in the field of the societal deductions of projected orphanage and there have besides been some profound statements in this respect:

`` Although the figure of orphans is reeling, its effects are merely merely get downing '' ( UNAIDS, 2001:19 ) .

`` The socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS portends a immense human-centered catastrophe with desperate economic and societal effects '' ( ILO, 2002: n.p. ) .

`` Turning up without school or vocational instruction, they are juvenile delinquents, possible Rebels. 'What future do they hold, what future do we hold? ' `` ( Hunter, 1990:683 )

`` aˆ¦the potency for monolithic societal dislocation and disruption in Sub-Saharan Africa '' ( Hunter, 1990:681 )

The above statements and decisions made by assorted writers, need to be read in visible radiation of Bray 's ( 2003:3 ) call for serious and careful consideration of any literature that makes assorted premises and decisions as to the societal impact of the projected orphanage.

She calls for the cautious usage of jutting figures of orphans every bit good as the possible deductions on societal and economic degrees as these anticipations, as antecedently mentioned, are mere estimations in the visible radiation of the absence of important surveies or grounds to turn out the cogency thereof.

Sing Bray 's ( 2003:44 ) call for cautiousness when working with statistical informations associating to orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) , every bit good as her concern to presume and reason to any effects and societal impact thereof ( 2003:3 ) , such projections will non be included or promoted within this survey.

The statistical informations and projections included in this survey are simply to dispute perceptual experiences and methods when sing appropriate intercessions to turn to the demands of vulnerable kids.

The outstanding influence of HIV and AIDS therefore far, serves to admit and understand the impact thereof on communities and to further place the pandemic as one of the biggest subscribers to the exposure of kids.

It needs to be stressed that the exposure of kids is non merely caused by the HIV and AIDS pandemic or orphanage entirely. UNICEF ( 2004b:14 ) provinces that it should be noted that `` the impact of HIV/AIDS every bit good as other subscribers to the exposure of kids varies well from one context to another '' .

Harmonizing to them, `` there is no theoretical account or specific set of intercessions that can be prescribed for all communities '' and for this ground, within each action or intercession, `` the mix of schemes and actions will change harmonizing to locally identified demands, capacities and precedences '' ( UNICEF, 2004b:14 ) .

2.3 Decision

The annihilating impact of HIV and AIDS and other factors underpinned by poorness, on the kids and their households every bit good as the communities as a whole, is a really complex state of affairs with no simple solution or speedy hole. The world of the current state of affairs is complex, inter-related on all degrees of life, and cuts across all sectors of development. We are faced with an unprecedented state of affairs that requires the trust and regard of communities, coaction and committedness at all degrees of the society.

This world is an even bigger felt-need of kids or as Macharia Kamau from UNICEF ( 2008:4 ) provinces:

`` For many kids in South Africa, life is their biggest challenge. Populating in hapless rural communities, overcrowded townships and dilapidated interior metropoliss, these kids do non hold the privilege of private medical attention, a school library brimming with books, a computing machine at place or in some cases, parents to love and protect them. What they frequently face is a childhood lost to poorness, disease, hapless societal services and broken places '' ( UNICEF, 2008:4 ) .

With the apprehension that `` there is no formula or route map '' ( FHI, 2001:2 ) , and there is no `` one-size fits all '' ( Engle, 2008:37 ) ; `` there is a turning consensus about the wide lineations of a strategic response '' ( FHI, 2001:2 ) and rules to steer intercessions to help these orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) .

Due to the focal point of this survey being on orphans and vulnerable kids ( OVC ) , and the awaited function of the church in the community through a catalytic-relational partnership, it is important to understand these recommended responses and rules in order to include these results in the church 's practice of community development, which will be discussed subsequently in this survey.

Cite this Page

Vulnerability Of Children Contributing Factors Health And Social Care Essay. (2018, Sep 10). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/vulnerability-of-children-contributing-factors-health-and-social-care-essay/

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

plagiarism ruin image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Save time and let our verified experts help you.

Hire writer